

In some cases, Apple’s prices are so high that you’d be better off skipping these accessories entirely if you don’t really need them you can decide for yourself whether to spend the cash on them, anyway. Almost all of these accessories are pricier than their Dock Connector predecessors, and newly-released Lightning to 30-Pin Adapters aren’t cheap, either. Thus far, Apple has announced eight different Lightning accessories two are new, while six are updates to prior Dock Connector versions. Roughly six millimeters long by six millimeters wide and 1.5mm thick, the male Lightning plug is around 30% as wide as its predecessor, stiffer-feeling, and apparently a lot more expensive.

Officially announced in September 2012, Apple’s Lightning connector is the smaller replacement for the 30-Pin Dock Connector introduced in 2003 - a reliable plug that has been used in thousands of Apple-specific accessories, including everything from chargers to speakers, video projectors, and blood pressure monitors.
